Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court has ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, and the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Bashir Alkali, over alleged fraud involving $1.3 million and over N746 million.
The order was issued by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie after both defendants failed to appear in court for their arraignment, but the third defendant, Sani Mohammed, was present when the matter was called.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting the trio on a 21-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent contract awards, and diversion of public funds totaling about $1.3 million and N746.6 million.
According to the charge, the former minister and the permanent secretary allegedly misappropriated funds meant to be refunded to the ministry by a private firm after an overpayment linked to a social intervention programme under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Officeb, NASSCO.
During proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that despite prior assurances from defence lawyers, the defendants were not produced for arraignment. He further stated that while the third defendant responded after his surety was contacted, the first and second defendants failed to do so.
The prosecution also informed the court that the former minister had earlier travelled abroad for medical treatment after being granted permission but had neither returned her passport nor provided satisfactory medical records to justify her continued absence.
Counsel to the first defendant, Abdul Ibrahim, SAN, argued that his client’s absence was due to ill health and sought to tender an affidavit to that effect, which the court declined the request.
The EFCC subsequently applied for a bench warrant, citing the defendants’ failure to honour bail conditions and appear in court.
The defence, in response, requested six weeks to produce the former minister.
In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the prosecution’s application and ordered the arrest of the two absent defendants to compel their appearance in court.
The case was adjourned to 18th May 2026, for arraignment and commencement of trial.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
